Isko Moreno to barangay execs: ‘Declog creeks to prevent dengue’

MANILA, Philippines — In a bid to lower the number of dengue cases in the city, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said on Tuesday said he had ordered creeks around the area to be cleared and unclogged.

Moreno said that even before the Department of Health (DOH) declared a national dengue alert, the local government of Manila had already started cleaning and cleaning creeks particularly in the Recto Avenue area.

“As we speak, there are still movement that we do in our drainage system. It is ongoing process kasi para mabawasan yung stagnant water,” Moreno told reporters.

“We want our creeks and other mga nakatenggang tubig to be moved kasi yan na.. well as far as I know, the more stagnant it is, the more possible na dumami ang dengue,” he added.

Moreno then urged barangay officials to participate in the clearing of creeks in their respective  areas.

According to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, from January 1 to June 29 this year, 106,630 dengue cases have been reported nationwide.

This, he said, is an 85 percent increase from the 57,564 cases reported over the same period last year. /muf

READ: DOH declares national dengue alert